The number of migrants arriving in the Balearic Islands reached a new record high in 2025. Frontex could launch an official mission – but the Spanish central government is not submitting the necessary application.
After a break of almost two weeks, two boats carrying a total of 45 migrants arrived in the Balearics again on Monday evening, according to local media – one southeast of Ibiza, another on Mallorca’s southeast coast. These arrivals continue a trend that led to a new record high in 2025: according to official figures, 367 boats carrying 6,849 migrants reached the archipelago by early December – in 2024 the figure was 5,882 people.
The route from the North African coast to the Balearics is recording the strongest growth of all migration routes into the European Union. However, given its length, it is also one of the most dangerous, with the number of fatalities remaining high. Bodies are repeatedly washed up on the beaches of the islands.
Most arrivals are recorded in the east of the archipelago, particularly Mallorca. After initial care by the Spanish Guardia Civil, the national police take over the registration of personal details and fingerprints. Most of those arriving stay on the islands for a maximum of three days and then take the ferry to Barcelona. From there, many travel on to France or Belgium – so apparently they do not apply for asylum in Spain at all.
To avoid longer stays in the port terminal, emergency shelters have been set up on Formentera and Ibiza, with more being created on Mallorca. Hotels near the port also serve as provisional accommodation. An exception is unaccompanied minors, who are not allowed to travel on and are looked after by the respective island administrations.
The EU border agency Frontex cites less strict controls in the country and the use of faster boats as reasons for the increase in departures from Algeria. Many of the migrants themselves come from Algeria – and not from sub-Saharan countries or Eritrea, as is the case with departures from other countries. Diplomatic tensions are considered another factor: since Spain has supported the Moroccan position in the Western Sahara conflict since 2022, Algeria is allegedly taking back fewer migrants subject to deportation.
Since February, Frontex has also been working with the Guardia Civil and sea rescue services regarding the Balearics. However, this is not an official mission; the EU border agency has not stationed any personnel on the islands either. The support therefore takes place within the framework of other Frontex operations in the Mediterranean.
To change this, Balearic Prime Minister Marga Prohens met with EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner in Brussels in October. She was accompanied by the island councils of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza. Brunner showed “a great deal of understanding”, the conservative politician told local media. Frontex is “fully prepared” to become active with Spain as the host state of a mission around the Balearics.
However, without a corresponding application from the Spanish central government under the Socialist Pedro Sánchez, the EU Commission cannot act, and this is still pending. The reason may lie in the fundamental tensions between Madrid and Frontex in Warsaw. One point of contention for several years has been the EU agency’s demand for more influence in operations in West African countries or off their coasts, where Spain claims the leading role – and which is why Frontex had to end its Atlantic operation in the Canaries, which had been running for over two decades, in 2019.
Nevertheless, Prohens expressed optimism: the conversation with Brunner had reinforced the call for a Frontex deployment in the Balearics. The ball is now in Madrid’s court.
Published in German in „nd“.
Image: Policía Nacional.
